Moments in Time Chapter 7:

In a nearby kingdom, up in the tallest tower of a castle, lived an old wizard by the name of Merlin. While the wizard normally kept to himself, barring his odd friendship with the ruler of the land, just now, he'd received a letter.

"Archimedes! Archimedes, wake up!" Merlin prodded the owl with his staff.

The bird snorted awake, "Huh? Who? What-what?" he looked at his companion. "Oh. What do you want?" he asked, visibly less than thrilled at having been woken up.

"We're going on a little trip, you and I." he informed him cheerfully. "To the neighboring kingdom. Apparently, little Princess Aurora has developed an affinity for magic and King Stefan would like me to train her in the arcane arts!"

"Brilliant." the familiar groused, but got onto Merlin's shoulder anyway.

"Oh don't be like that, Archimedes, you could use the fresh air!" Merlin insisted. "Now then, I say we tell Arthur that we're going on a little trip."

"No, we should totally go without saying anything and scare the poor boy half to death." Archimedes said, voice dripping with sarcasm, even as Merlin descended the stairs to go find the young King.

"Now Archimedes, sarcasm is unbecoming of an educated owl like yourself, we've been over this." Merlin chided.

"That's not stopped me before, I fail to see why it would stop me now." his friend replied.

Merlin rolled his eyes, but let the owl have this for once.

…

After a bit of searching, they found Arthur in the courtyard, practicing with his sword.

He swung it around with ease, thrusts, cuts and slashes coming as if the sword weighed nothing, his body drenched in sweat from having been at this for a long time, but he didn't seem to be struggling to hold or use the sword.

"Arthur!" Merlin called out, approaching the King.

The young man in question turned around. He'd grown up quite a bit since his coronation the year before, muscle forming on a once scrawny frame and a bit of stubble starting to form on his chin. The boy's eyes lit up. "Merlin!" he said happily. "I thought you were busy with your uh," he frowned, "che, mis, try?" he asked, slowly pronouncing the word to try and get it right.

Merlin smiled proudly. "I was, until I just received a message. Tell me, do you know who King Stefan is?"

He nodded, "He's from the kingdom south of ours, isn't he?"

"Indeed. I've just been informed that his daughter, Princess Aurora, has recently developed a talent for magic, and I have been asked to train her!"

Arthur tilted his head, "Huh. I didn't know humans could do magic, except for you."

"Oh yes. It's a rare talent, but sorcerers do appear, occasionally. I'll be leaving now, but I assure you, I will come back. I just thought it a good idea to tell you first." Merlin explained.

The young monarch nodded again, "Thank you for that. Promise me you'll stay safe?"

"Oh, don't worry, boy, what's the-"

"Merlin, do not finish that sentence!" Archimedes snapped, interrupting the Wizard. "You know what happened last time you tempted fate like that!"

Merlin blinked, "Oh dear, you're absolutely correct. I think I'd best go now before I end up possibly tempting fate again."

Arthur tried to stifle a chuckle, but nodded, "Yeah, you do that."

"Now then," Merlin drew himself up straighter and gripped his staff, "Ala, ka, zam!" he intoned. He smacked his staff on the ground near him and with a flash of light, the wizard was gone.

…

He reappeared right outside the gates of King Stefan's castle, making the guards posted there jump in surprise and point their spears at him.

"State your business!" demanded one of them.

"Always with the violence." Archimedes muttered to himself.

"Now, now, my name is Merlin, your King summoned me here for the sake of Princess Aurora, see?" Merlin said, showing the message he'd gotten.

The guard read it, and slowly nodded, "Stand down." he told the other guard.

The other guard removed his spear from Merlin's face, "Apologies, sir."

"Oh, don't call me that, just call me Merlin." the wizard waved them off, walking through the castle.

…

After getting turned around repeatedly in the unfamiliar halls, the wizard eventually found a maid who was willing to give him directions to the King, who introduced him to his daughter.

"Ah, hello, Your Highness." Merlin gave the Princess a polite bow, Archimedes doing the same.

Aurora smiled, hiding her nerves, "I was told that you would be helping me with my magic, Mr. Merlin?"

"None of that 'Mister' stuff, please." Merlin waved her off. "Now then, Your Majesty? Could you tell me how it is that you found out your daughter had magic?"

King Stefan took a deep breath, "She, manifested a shield to protect Prince Phillip from being injured by a frightened horse."

"Her first use of magic was to protect another, that's generally a good sign." the aging man smiled down at the young Princess. "Now, Princess, can you tell me if you've had any prior training?" he asked.

"Yes, with three Fairies named Flora, Fauna and Merryweather. It, did not go well." she looked down, embarrassed.

"Oh wonderful! Now the Fey are involved." Archimedes groused, "We should leave well enough alone and leave while we can, Merlin."

King Stefan scowled at the bird.

Merlin prodded him with his staff, "Now Archimedes, don't be rude. I was asked for help and I will give it as was requested of me. Now then, how did you come about your magic, Princess? Did it suddenly develop, or did you get it from someone?"

"It, was a gift." she said nervously.

"A gift? From whom?"

"Maleficent."

Archimedes paled, "I knew it! I knew this was a mistake! Come on Merlin, let's go!" he insisted, pulling on the Wizard's robe with his claws, flying backwards to try to pull him away.

"Come now, Archimedes, stop being rude!" he shooed the bird, getting him to let go.

"RUDE?!" he screeched. "This isn't just Fey magic, this is Black Magic. You yourself said that you don't touch the stuff!"

"Excuse me." Aurora said quietly, "But, can you train me?"

"Well, no. As I said, I don't touch Black Magic for several reasons. But, if what you say is true, my advice is to not use your magic and, let it fade. Believe me, Black Magic is best left untouched." Merlin said seriously.

"That isn't an option." King Stefan said grimly. "Aurora, received a curse, alongside her gift. If, she isn't trained by the time she is 16, she will bring ruin to our kingdom."

Merlin's face fell. He started stroking his beard in thought, "Oh dear. That is problematic."

"Is there anything you can do? Please, whatever you need, you shall receive it, just, don't leave us with nothing." King Stefan implored.

"Not get involved with that horrid witch?" Archimedes snarked.

"Shush, you." Merlin chided. "But, to answer your question, no. Fey magic isn't the same as human magic, and even if it was, I abjectly refuse to touch Black Magic. I can only recommend going to the source."

King Stefan stared at him as if he'd grown a second head. "You can't be serious."

"Quite serious, Your Majesty."

"Merlin, you senile old windbag, do you have any idea what you're saying?!" Archimedes yelled.

"Perfectly well. I don't like it much more than you do, but it's the only way to save your daughter. I cannot dispel the curse. My magic is potent, no doubt, but even if I COULD dispel it, I suspect Maleficent would see it as an insult and try to raze both your kingdom and mine to the ground, probably out of sheer spite. I'm afraid that your only resource, would be to go to Maleficent herself for training." Merlin said.